What is the yellow stuff coming out of my guinea pig's bum?
The grease gland, also known as the caudal gland, produces secretions for scenting and marking purposes. True to its name, the dime-sized area emits an oily, greasy, or waxy substance. A little yucky, but totally normal.
Guinea pigs produce this fluid as part of the normal grooming process. It lubricates the eye and guinea pigs will also use it to clean the face. Green or yellow discharge is abnormal, as well as an excess of clear tears that can then form a crust in the fur.
It is quite normal to find a smelly white thickened substance called smegm*. This does not need to be removed unless solid and crusty. It is not necessary to wash guinea pigs regularly nor to clean the anal sack areas, unless there is a problem.
A small amount of white discharge is common when guinea pigs are grooming themselves, but if this increases or decreases, or there is a discharge at other times, it may mean your guinea pig is ill, so always contact your vet.
Pet parents with boars will likely need to clean their guinea pig's grease gland more frequently than sows, but every pet is a unique individual. Regardless of whether your pet is male or female, check your guinea pig's grease gland once a month to see how much gummed-up material is present.
Eye discharge is normal for guinea pigs, and in fact, they use eye discharge to clean their faces. The liquid their eyes secrete is a creamy white color, and they'll use their front paws to rub it onto their face.
Gastrointestinal parasites or abnormal physiology of the hindgut leading to impacted material in the cecum can also lead to mucous in the stools. If you notice more than a few poops covered in mucous its always best to get your vet's advice.
If your guinea pig has worms, they may lose weight, have diarrhoea, lose their appetite, or be suffering from some bloating. The worms can be treated, but this will need to be done by a vet, who will prescribe a treatment to get rid of the parasites.
Affected skin will get thick and sometimes yellowish and crusty. There may be hair loss in the affected area. Secondary bacterial skin infection commonly occurs. In time, weight loss is common, and your guinea pig may become debilitated, lethargic, and depressed.
Sludge (dense calcium crystals) has a toothpaste-like consistency and is often difficult to remove entirely with normal urination. The sludge generally settles at the bottom of the bladder with normal urine on top, and it is usually only in the last part of urination that this gritty grey paste is passed.
Can guinea pigs get sick from a dirty cage?
Dirty cages can be a life-threatening health hazard
The bottomline on how often to clean the cage is -- as often as needed. Guinea pigs should never be sitting in wet bedding or wet fleece.
Blood in Urine
Urine sometimes changes to an orange color on standing (this may be the oxidation of porphyrins in the urine). When your guinea pig has blood in its urine, it will appear red or pinkish (if diluted). Blood dries a brownish color.
Rabbit and guinea pigs are prone to bladder problems such as bladder sludge and stones. Bladder sludge is urine that has thickened due to the presence of large amounts of calcium – it can be sandy and toothpaste-like in consistency.
A guinea pig's habitat should be completely cleaned at least once a week.
Piggy Cleaning: Unscented baby wipes can be used to wipe down piggy bums and bellies. If a bath is necessary, we suggest OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo. Wash the piggy from the waist down and be extremely careful not to get water on their faces as they can aspirate. Rinse well with warm water.
If the bedding surface is damp and dirty then bacteria can form, the cage will become smelly and your guinea pigs will have to sleep on the equivalent of wet, dirty bed sheets. Yuck! Damp surfaces can lead to piggies getting sore feet which can become problematic for them.
Yes, male guinea pig ejacul*te is normal! ejacul*te is generally white in color and appears rubbery. It is sometimes referred to as "boar glue" due to its tendency to stick to just about everything, and the supreme difficulty of removal.
Small, Dry Poop
Small and dry poop (even immediately after coming out of their booties) could be a sign of dehydration.
In addition to the bacteria naturally present in all feces, guinea pigs with conditions such as salmonella or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can pass those conditions onto humans through direct contact with feces or even through the air.
Guinea pig pee isn't particularly dangerous to humans. However, all pee can contain germs so we don't recommend getting too close to any urine or faeces if you can avoid it. The best way to do this is by cleaning regularly, wearing gloves and using products to remove bacteria.
What causes wet poop in guinea pigs?
An imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, hypovitaminosis, excess water, and a lack of fiber can cause stools to be runny.
Guinea pigs can come into contact with intestinal worms in their environment, so it is vital to keep them up to date with their worming schedule. Guinea pigs can contract worms from cat & dog faeces, so it is essential that if your own a cat or dog that your Guinea Pig does not have access to eating it.
There is no drug to treat Guinea worm disease and no vaccine to prevent Guinea worm infection. Once part of the worm begins to come out of the wound, the rest of the worm can only be pulled out a few centimeters each day by winding it around a piece of gauze or a small stick.
Flystrike is common in rabbits & guinea pigs during summer
Flies quickly lay eggs on soiled bedding. These turn into maggots that burrow into open sores and moist places like the rear. Pets that struggle to keep themselves clean due to old age, arthritis, or dental issues are most at risk.
If you're confused as to what's troubling your pet, bear in mind that guinea pigs can contract parasites from hay and grass, as well as from other animals.
Zoonotic Diseases: Guinea Pigs
Cryptosporidiosis is transmitted by the fecal-oral route and can cause diarrhea in humans. Usually the diarrhea is self-limiting but in immunocompromised individuals the disease can have a prolonged course.
While guinea pigs don't require any vaccinations, they do need to be wormed every three months with a small animal wormer which can be added to their water.
Infected guinea pigs may stop eating, have discharge from the eyes or nose, sneeze, or have trouble breathing. Cultures of the eye and nasal discharge can be taken to identify the causative organism so that the appropriate antibiotics can be prescribed.
Generally, guinea pigs only need the odd bath when they get dirty. If your guinea pig starts to smell unpleasantly, or their bottom looks soggy, it may be time for a bath. Long-haired guinea pigs are particularly prone to soggy bottoms, so it's worth checking (and cutting) their long locks regularly.
Can I Use Dawn Dish Soap to Wash My Guinea Pig? Although some articles say it is safe to use Dawn dish soap to wash your guinea pig, we recommend that you don't. Even the gentlest dish soaps contain ingredients that may be too harsh on your guinea pig's skin.
Is it OK to touch guinea pig poop?
In terms of health risks to humans, it does pose some threats. Guinea pigs' poop often contains bacteria that are harmful to humans. One typical example is salmonella which often leads to fever in humans. If you own a guinea pig as a pet, when cleaning the poop, it is best to avoid direct contact.
Faecal impaction is a condition seen most commonly in entire male guinea pigs after 2-3 years of age. The exact reason for its occurrence is unknown, but it is thought that the increased size of the testicl*s and fat deposit in the scrotal sac prevents faeces from falling out of the rectum.
Guinea pig fact file
Here are some more top guinea pig facts: Typically guinea pigs live for 5-6 years, but some may live longer.
These symptoms include irregular patches of fur loss, crust at the edges of lesions in their skin, redness or inflammation on their face and/or feet, and rough hair coat.
Harkness and Wagner describe the lesions as "oviod, hairless, scaling "sore spots" with crusts or scabs over raised areas." In guinea pigs, the tufts of hair may be stuck together by a crust of exudate (the skin beneath may exude serum). When this dries up the lesions become dry and scaly.
Because of this, it's best to allow gerbils, degus, hammys and chinchillas to use a dust or sand bath (while rabbits and guinea pigs will groom themselves to keep clean- they're not fans of dust or sand baths!).
Sludge is urine thickened by calcium salts to the point of being chalky and thick in consistency, sometimes as thick as toothpaste. This causes problems in the urinary bladder usually, although it can occur in the kidneys or ureters.
- Increase water intake. ...
- More exercise. ...
- Improve sanitary conditions and enclosure. ...
- Increase fresh green intake to upwards of 15-20% of their diet. ...
- Eliminate packaged treats. ...
- Offer a variety of grass hays and eliminate alfalfa from the diet.
Guinea pigs need time out of their cage every day. Whether this time is spent stretching their legs and exploring new environments or cuddling in your lap, daily interaction and attention are essential for a guinea pig's well-being.
Cleaning your Guinea Pigs Home
Your guinea pigs will love you for keeping their cage clean and it is also a fun bonding experience as your piggies will become comfortable seeing you interact with their cage.
What is the cleanest way to keep guinea pigs?
Make sure to clean the whole cage and all toys and accessories at least once a week with a guinea pig-friendly cleaning detergent, and you're all set. Between spot-cleaning and a regular cage clean, your cage won't have a chance to get smelly. It's the best way to keep a guinea pig cage from smelling.
In a nutshell, guinea pigs shouldn't smell. If they are giving off an unpleasant odour, it's usually a sign that the cage isn't clean, their diet is wrong, they're sick, or they're struggling to groom themselves. Also, boars may smell more than sows because of an oily buildup around the grease gland.
Gently towel dry your guinea pig by carefully rubbing and soaking up the excess water with your towel. Place in a small box on a dry towel, to shake and recover! You can use a hair-dryer at this point although it would be better if he could dry off naturally.
Guinea pigs get along just fine indoors with no enclosure at all, so if you have enough space in your home, you should give them an entire room to themselves.
Even if it doesn't seem like they drink much or if you think they're getting all the fluids they need from their vegetables, it is still important to give it to them. Without water, a guinea pig will quickly become dehydrated and ill.
Some of them never like to be picked up or held by humans and always prefer “hands-off” guardianship, although this largely depends on their personality.
Disease Problems of Guinea Pigs
Some infected animals remain asymptomatic, but clinical signs range from mild to severe keratoconjunctivitis with serous to purulent ocular discharge, conjunctival chemosis, follicular hypertrophy, and uveitis.
Infected guinea pigs may stop eating, have discharge from the eyes or nose, sneeze, or have trouble breathing. Cultures of the eye and nasal discharge can be taken to identify the causative organism so that the appropriate antibiotics can be prescribed.
Lesions are usually found around the head area and typical show hair loss, with crusting and scabbing. You will find that the hair falls out very easily at the edges of the lesions. If it is a mild case, it is usually not itchy. If the case is more severe, it can spread to other areas of the body and become itchy.
Chlamydiaceae are globally distributed and possess the ability to infect over 400 different hosts, from wildlife to pets and humans, with some chlamydial species considered strictly host-specific, while others are zoonotic [2]. For C. caviae, the main host is the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
What are 4 symptoms of Chlamydia?
- pain when urinating.
- unusual vagin*l discharge.
- pain in the tummy or pelvis.
- pain during sex.
- bleeding after sex.
- bleeding between periods.
Urinary Stones and Sludge in Guinea Pigs and Rabbits. The development of uroliths (urinary stones) and urinary sludge is a common health problem seen in guinea pigs and rabbits. These conditions often develop when there is a collection of excess calcium which builds up in the urinary tract.
In addition to diarrhoea, animals can develop bloat and appear dull and lose their appetite. In bile duct coccidiosis, severe infestation leads to a reduction in liver function. Affected animals are apathetic, lose weight, and are constipated. Some animals may also develop fever and become icteric.
There are disease concerns with both wild (rats, mice) and pet (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs) rodents and rabbits. They can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.
You can feed him live culture yogurt or lactobacilli acidophilus capsules dissolved into water. Always give your guinea pig the acidophilus supplements at least an hour before you give him an antibiotic so that the supplemental bacteria will not be eliminated.
Ringworm in guinea pigs is caused by a particular family of fungus. It's easily communicable between pigs—most animals are infected through contact with other infected guineas or by touching contaminated bedding or cage objects.
